Improved lime-kilns



C. HINKLEY.

Lime Kiln.

Patented June 25, 1867.

N FEITERS. MLNIWHWI- Washington D.C.

@initsh gratis gaunt. @ffirr.

IMPROVED LIME-Knits tits fittrhnle manta in time Ztettcrs 81m mm uniting pnttnf the 5W9.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY ooncnnn:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HINKLEY, of Williamsville, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certainnewand useful improvements in Lime-Kilns; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof, reference being had'tothe accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in whichv Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section in the plane of line 9' y, fig. 3.

Figure 2 is a vertical'transvcrse section in the plane of line 2; z, fig.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section .in the plane ofline a: a1, fig; 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all-the figures. V i

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in perpetual lime-kilnsor calcining furnaces, whereby the charge is more evenly burned than heretofore, and whereby a more free and perfect combustion of the fuel is obtained, and the firing performed with greater facility than heretofore, as hereinafter explained.

The invention consists in, giving the body of the cupola such form that i s burning-chamber is, in horirental section, of an elliptical form, and employing in connection therewith two fire-places or furnaces, which are located on opposite sides of the cupola, and in line of its shorter diameter, these furnaces having arched or crowning roofs, and flaring considerably upward and laterally toward the charge-chamber, the furnaces so constructed thereby delivering to the centre pf'the charge a greater proportion of heat,'relatively, than by the ordinary construction of furnaces and cnpola. The invention. also'consists in providing each fire-place with an elevated flue, which communicates with the top of the fire-place near its door, and passing over the fi-re place connects with the cupola-chamber at a point more or less above the main connection of the fire-place \vith'said chamber; by which arrangement air is supplied to the rear sides of the fires, for a more perfect combustion of the gases and smoke, and outward flow-of smoke and flame is prevented when the furnace doors are opened for firin And the invcntion further consists in an improved construction of the piers or pillars, at

the intersection of the fire-places with the cupolafichamber; these pillars-being, in cross-section, of'a triangular or form,.withithe bas e toward the cupolwchamber, thereby presenting a flat face for the charge to rest against, while a, sharp front'is presented toward the fire, sons to offer but little obstruction thereto, and also to allow the poker to be inserted and used more freely whenp'unching down clinkers, &c.

A, in the accompanying drawings, is the cupola or charge-chamber; 31B are thefurnaces or fire-places; C G are the ash-pits (3 (Z d d are the fire-grates; 7i. 7; are V piers or, pillars; g is the drawpassage e e are air,- ilues, and ff are dampersfor regulating the capacity of the same. It is'a fact well known to experienced lime-manufacturers that the centre of the charge is the last to burn,

and that it is a matter of considerable difficulty to burn the charge with that degree of uniformity which is.

desirable. To overcome this difliculty I construct the cupola and furnaces as follows: The cupola A, fig. 3, is made in an elliptical form, and the furnaces BB are placed on opposite sides of it in line of its transverse axis, so that the partition \valls, ,forn1ed by the triangular pillars, conform to the elliptical sides of the cupola, partially surrounding the same. Each furnace is constructed with its top or roof and sides gradually diverging or receding from each other,'and the bottom, from the outer opening to theirintersection with the eupola, with the roof arched or made'crowning as shown at 2', fig. 2.

This gradual enlargement of the furnace from the outside possesses the following advantages over those which arev simply enlarged at theirinner end a part of their length, viz, first, it enables the cupola and contents to be more readily inspected, as there is no angle or sudden bend to obstruct the view, .as is the case when the walls are parallel a partof the way,-and then suddenly-enlarge; and, secondl'yflhc furnace can be more readily supplicd with fuel, the combustion of the same is moreperfect and rapid, as the draught'of the .flame inward is more direct, less conflicting and obstructed, andrthe poker can be used more conveniently when re aired.

q The curved form of the division wall It It, in connection with the peculiar form of the cupola, unpartitioned, having a furnace on each'side, produces a concentration and tendency of the heat to the centre of the charge, which is so essential to the perfect burning at that point, to a degree unequalled by any other furnace with which I am acquainted. In addition to this the arched or crowning roof gives more ample space at the centre for the flame, which also increases-the"heat at that point'.. The draw-passage g I prefer to close by folding' doors, which, when opened, leave an aperture the full size of the passage and bottom of the kiln that enables the charge to he more readily withdrawn than when the mouth of the flue is divided by a central upright plate or pillar, as is ordinarily the case.

Each furnace is provided with a draught and air-flue, e, passing from. the roof near the outer end, 'over the former, and opening into the cupola at a point above the intersection of the furnace as represented. These fines may each be provided with a. suitable damper, fig. 1, operated from the outside, by which their capacity can be regulated, which dampers are always fully opened hefore'the openingof the furnace doors, which permits a free passage of the smoke and flame through the same that would otherwise flow outward through the open aperture. The employment of these auxiliary lines not only prevents the efilux of the smoke and flame when the furnace doors are opened, as just described, but also prevents that excessive heating of the doors which frequently occurs, and especially wi h a strong and adverse wind. By supplying air to the 'fia-me on each side of the cupola at their intersection therewith, secnresa n1ore perfeot combustion of the gases and other volatile products which would otherwise pass off unconsumcd, and hethereby wasted. The piers or pillars h h are made in a. V form, as shown in fig. 3, and placed so as to present a square face toward the cupola, and a sharp front toward the fires. Bythis construction they offer but little obstruction to the passage of the flames, as there is no flat surface for them to directly impinge against, as is the case where the pillars are of the usual square or rectangular form. They also allow the lime or other charge of the cupola to he more readily inspected; and when it is necessary to use the poker for punching down clinkers, they are less in the 'way than whenconstructed in the ordinary manner. This furnace may also be used for calcining gypsum, of which there are extensive deposits in some of'the newer portions of the country.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination and arrangement of the elliptic cnpola A, the inwardly widened furnaces B B,-sl1arpedged pillars 71, k, and fines e e, as and for the purposes herein specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES HINKLEY.

Witnesses: 7

W. O. Dnrnsnnon, T. '1. Sunset, 

